bird colonel
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A member of the United States armed forces having the rank of full colonel, as distinct from a lieutenant colonel.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
This month at 47, Colonel Polich retires after 20 years of service; as a reservist and an engineer, bird colonel is about the highest peacetime rank he can achieve.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “bird colonel” mean?
A member of the United States armed forces having the rank of full colonel, as distinct from a lieutenant colonel.
Is “bird colonel” formal or informal?
bird colonel is generally slang.